This page contains the following curriculum information:                            

Our teachers and aides draw from throughout the local Jewish community.
School staff

Core Areas

Our curriculum centers on six core areas:

• holidays and symbols
• prayer and God
• Jewish values
• Hebrew
• Jewish customs and practices
• Bible and history

The recurrence of these areas with increasing depth and sophistication from grade to grade provides continuity to the curriculum and enables students to build upon what they have learned previously. Whenever possible, we integrate between the core areas within a single grade.

We create learning environments that meet the needs of all of our students. We rely on parents to let us know about any special needs or concerns regarding your child(ren). We employ a wide range of teaching methods to engage and motivate our students. Story, song, Israeli dance, drama, arts and crafts, hands-on activities, and a variety of experiential learning activities are all a part of each grade's curriculum.

Holidays

Specialists

• Hebrew Specialists—At the beginning of the school year, our Hebrew Specialists assess our 4th through 6th graders’ Hebrew skills. They determine which students are reading at grade level and which students need more support. Those who need support receive one-on-one tutoring during their Hebrew class on Wednesdays. Those whose skills are at grade level or above and are willing to do extra work are invited to participate in our Wednesday Advanced Hebrew class.

• Music Teacher— Rabbi Paula Marcus oversees the Temple School music program.  We also hire a music specialist to supplement Rabbi Paula’s music program.  Every other Sunday, all classes have music as part of their schedules.

Go to grade K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Hebrew High | Post-Confirmation | School staff

Jewish a Lot for Parents and Tots

Our pre-school parent/child interactive program is open to kids ages 0 to preK with their parent(s). This program creates positive associations with the synagogue and Temple School. This is a monthly program devoted to Jewish holidays and values.  Songs, stories, and crafts are all a part of the Jewish A Lot experience.  Jewish A Lot is free and open to Temple members and non-members alike.

The first of the 8 sessions this year is Sunday, September 8, 9:15 to 10:30 am.
Click here to view a flier about this year's program

Jewish a Lot is not part of regular Temple School registration. To register, either print the flier and mail in the form at the bottom or email the information requested on the form to Karen Sylvan, ksylvan@tbeaptos.org.

Kindergarten Curriculum

• introduction to Jewish holidays, with a special focus on Shabbat
• Judaism as part of the student’s personal identity
• introduction to prayer and God
• blessings for Shabbat and for food
• Hebrew as a holy language and the language of Israel
• Hebrew literacy words
• family learning session together with First Grade occurs once every other year

First Grade Curriculum

• cycle of the Jewish holidays with a special focus on Hanukkah and Shavuot
• the Ten Commandments
• mitzvot, the synagogue, Jewish symbols, Israel, Bible
• Jewish life cycle
• Sh'ma and holiday blessings
• Hebrew literacy words
• family learning session together with Kindergarten occurs once every other year

Second Grade Curriculum

• Jewish holidays with a special focus on Simhat Torah and Purim
• Shehecheyanu blessing
• focus on Bible stories
• Hebrew literacy words
• begin process of recognizing the Hebrew aleph bet
• once a year family learning session with one of our clergy

Third Grade Curriculum

• holiday customs and symbols with a special focus on Passover
• review Bible Stories from Genesis and Exodus with focus on Joseph, Moses, and the Exodus
• expansion of holiday blessings and the 4 questions of Passover
• Israel as our Jewish homeland
• Hebrew reading readiness
• once a year family learning session with one of our clergy

Fourth Grade Curriculum
Our two-day a week program begins in this grade

• Jewish holiday traditions with a special focus on Simchat Torah and Hanukkah
• the Prophets and Jewish ethics
• develop Hebrew-reading skills
• attendance at weekly worship service
• monthly family learning sessions focused on the holiday cycle

Fifth Grade Curriculum—Check out our new MitKadem Hebrew Program

• holidays with a special focus on Sukkot
• Torah portion of the week, traditional and modern commentary and Midrash
• Jewish life cycle
• transition from primer reading to prayer book Hebrew
• attendance at weekly worship service
• monthly family learning sessions focused on Parshat HaShavua, the Torah portion of the week

Sixth Grade Curriculum—Check out our new MitKadem Hebrew Program

• emphasis on High Holy Days and Passover
• survey of Jewish history and leaders from Mattathias to the Golden Age of Spain
• study of the prophets and sections that comprise the Haftarah selections 
• continued focus on prayer book Hebrew
• attendance at weekly worship service
• monthly family learning sessions focused on the Haftarah reading of the week

Seventh Grade Curriculum

• Torah trope
• introduction to Modern Hebrew
• history of modern Israel
• Holocaust studies
• four family learning sessions focusing on topics relevant to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah year
• attendance at weekly T’fillah

Hebrew High School

We offer a 3-year Hebrew High School, beginning in the 8th grade and culminating in Confirmation. The curriculum consists of 8 required core courses and elective classes.
more information

Post-Confirmation or 10th grade with concurrent enrollment in Hebrew High School: Madrichim Program

Our Temple’s young adults serve as teaching aides in our Temple School while studying various aspects of youth leadership and classroom management. Students earn the minimum wage during their first year. To find out more, contact Rabbi Paula Marcus, pmarcus@tbeaptos.org, 479-3444, x205